隅田川花火大会 SUMIDAGAWA FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

[tokyodisa]

Who: Everybody!
What: Tokyo Day Three: fireworks festival
When: Thursday, 18/July -- evening
Where: Hotel or Sumida
Rating: pretty

Tonight, in the sky, there are fireworks.

You can see them from the hotel window, but for a better look -- so suggests the helpful concierge at the desk -- you'll want to head to Sumida, where locals and tourists alike gather on the edge of the Sumida River.

[ Watch fireworks from the hotel | Watch fireworks from Sumida ]

[Technically the festival is supposed to happen on the last Saturday of July, but whatever! It's Paradisa. For more information on the festival please visit here, and you can watch YouTube videos here.]

Comments

[eaglet]

[Anything to help impress Ezio would be really appreciated, yes...]

Is all of America like this in your time?

[hellofist]

No, there's still... farming places, with big fields. Lots of cows. Cities are better, though. More to do.

[More crime to stop, more people to punch in the face for fun.]

[eaglet]

[Big fields...]

Are there still forests? There must be.

[hellofist]

There are. Big ones, with lots... of wild animals, still.

[It seems important to tell him that, for some reason. For him to know there are still natural places, places that are still more green and clean than grey and dirty.]

[eaglet]

[It's very important to him, yes -- he practically radiates relief when she says that, though it probably wouldn't be visible to anyone but Cass.

He looks at her for a moment, then turns his gaze back out over the city. There are so many lights, even without the fireworks, and it's extremely disorienting.]

Just before I came here... to Paradisa. I went to a city for the first time. It is called Boston, if it is still there in your time. And there are -- there were -- so many people in this place, all sorts of people and sounds. Smells. I worry that places like Boston will keep swelling with people, to become places like this. [He gestures out at Tokyo with a nod.] And I worry they will take over the forests, and the animals that live in them. And I worry for the people, too.

[hellofist]

[Gently, she puts her hand on his shoulder, squeezes it in an attempt to comfort him.]

Never been there. Lots of cities there... are like this. But lots of places... still have nothing. Few people, few buildings. Where I grew up... was just one dojo, one... training house. Nothing else, for miles.

[eaglet]

[Connor doesn't flinch away from her hand, accepting the gesture with some small degree of solemnity. That isn't exactly what he meant, but he doesn't correct her.]

That sounds lonely.

[hellofist]

It was okay. Just saying, there's still places... in my time, with trees. With the stuff... you're used to. Not just this.

[She nods to the city, which is beautiful and like looking at home to her but so different, for him.]

[eaglet]

[It doesn't really sound like it was 'okay' to him, but he's not going to argue. He looks back at the city too, a small furrow between his eyebrows.]

I wonder if the places I know are still the places with trees.

[hellofist]

Wish I knew. Wish I could... say something, to help.

[But she doesn't think there is anything to say, so Cass just slips her hand from one shoulder to the other, effectively putting her arm around him. She gives him a little squeeze, a half hug as she looks out over the city as well.]

[eaglet]

[Connor doesn't reciprocate, not being a very physically affectionate person, but the way his shoulders briefly tense and then relax under the weight of her arm should translate that he's grateful for her sympathy.

He's quiet for a little while, thinking. Paradisa was culture shock enough, but Tokyo is really throwing him for a loop.]

If we are ever taken to the land of my people, I will show you what it is like there.

[hellofist]

[That's one of the benefits to understanding what bodies say, he doesn't have to do anything for her to know this is helping. So she leaves her arm where it is and smiles when he speaks.]

Good. Would like that. When we go back... to castle? Can live in forest, for awhile. We'll camp, or something. Will be good.

[Not home, but something close to it at least.]

[eaglet]

[He turns his head halfway to look at her out the corner of his eye, expression a little curious.]

Do you want to?

[hellofist]

[At first she looks surprised that he would ask that, but it doesn't last long. She goes right back to smiling at him.]

Of course. Wouldn't suggest it... if I didn't. We'll have fun.

[eaglet]

[Maybe she was just being polite, he doesn't know...

The corner of his mouth quirks a little, and he turns his gaze back over the city.]

I do not know if 'fun' is what it will be, but you are right. It will be good.

[hellofist]

[She gives him another one of those hugs again, jostling him a little this time.]

We'll make fun. You'll smile more, like that. Just wait, you'll see.

[eaglet]

[Wow, Cass, rude!! He shakes his head ruefully, that little half-smile widening.]

You and Stephanie are very determined that I have fun! I wonder if this is an American quirk.

[hellofist]

[Must not be that rude cause you're still smiling.]

Maybe. I'm... not American, though.

[She kind of looks like the people who live in Tokyo, actually. Go figure.]

[eaglet]

You live in the same place as Stephanie, do you not? Were you born elsewhere?

[hellofist]

Yeah. Took me... nine years, to find Gotham. Started somewhere else.

[She stops there, but then realizes that kind of begs a question and answers it for him.]

Not sure where. Somewhere far.

[eaglet]

[He's quiet about that, thinking. Nine years is a long time...

When he answers, his tone is quiet. Both that and his posture, the way his eyes are downcast, translates to being unsure if this is a proper question to ask. But he's curious, clearly, even he's somewhat unsure.]

Do you feel as though you do not belong?

[hellofist]

[It's something of a sensitive topic, but she doesn't mind talking about it with Connor. She answers right away, no hesitation so he'll know it's okay to ask her things if he wants to.]

Yes. I don't fit, there. In lots of ways. Stephanie said, I'm creepy, weird. Another friend... [Tim, but she doesn't want to say Alvin and give him away.] Didn't trust me, was afraid. Can't read, couldn't talk.

[She lists all these things, but her voice is light because it's just the facts, there's not much she can do about it.]

Doesn't matter. Just tried to... make a place, for myself.

[eaglet]

[Her immediate response assuages some of his uncertainty about the topic, but he again doesn't answer right away. He does look up somewhat sharply when she says that Stephanie called her 'creepy,' though, his mouth set in a small frown. He doesn't think she's creepy, but he also doesn't want to interrupt her, so he doesn't say anything.

He probably doesn't need to.]

It is difficult to do, to find a place of your own while you are alone on your path. I do not think many people understand this.

[hellofist]

[Cass nods, because that's very true.]

It helps, when you... find others, to go with. To... walk your path with.

[Her arm is still around him but it doesn't feel like enough right now, so she kisses the side of his head, just a quick press of her lips near his temple. Something else to show her affection, her support.]

You'll find your place.

[eaglet]

[He has Achilles, sort of, but the old man doesn't really understand. Nor does Connor understand him, for that matter. But then -- Cass does that, and --

He ducks his head a little, shyly, but he doesn't push her away. It's just embarrassing.... and he can feel his face flushing, it's awful. Girls! What are girls even.]

I must. I am the only one who can.